On this day, I went to a public bath with my senior, and afterwards I felt a little hungry. We arrived at the ramen restaurant around 11 pm, and since there were only two customers, we were seated right away. The ramen was served promptly after writing down our preferences on a paper. Personally, I don't really like the taste of Ichiran's tonkotsu broth. Even though it has a light flavor for tonkotsu, I feel like there is a strange dullness to it. Also, the noodles at this restaurant were strangely mushy and didn't have a good texture. The same goes for the extra noodles we ordered. Well, I guess since it's a chain restaurant, it's to be expected, but considering the price is not cheap, I wish they would improve the quality a bit.

I visited this shop located in the basement of a building about a 3-minute walk from the north exit of JR Chuo Line Nakano Station. I arrived around 1915 with no wait. There were 3 customers before me and 3 after me. I visited the familiar Ichiran ramen, this time at the Nakano branch. I purchased ramen for 980 yen, a half-boiled salted egg for 140 yen, and an extra serving of noodles for 210 yen from the ticket machine. The ramen was served 5 minutes later. The soup was a light pork bone broth with no pork smell, blended with a secret sauce containing chili pepper, which was delicious. The noodles were very thin and straight, cooked to the perfect firmness, which was tasty. The toppings included 2 slices of chashu, a half-boiled salted egg, green onions, and the secret sauce. This was my first visit to Ichiran since April when I visited the Tachikawa branch. Compared to other branches, the Nakano branch seemed to have fewer foreign customers and was less likely to have long lines, which was appreciated. Thank you for the meal.

I wonder when was the last time I ate at Ichiran. It had been years since I last tried it, but due to strong requests, I finally visited the place. Ichiran is known for its unique counter seats, the popularity of its tonkotsu ramen, and the long lines of foreign tourists. I bought a meal ticket and took my seat. However, I found the tonkotsu ramen to be quite expensive. I ordered a regular ramen and waited for it to arrive. When it finally came, it looked plain and unappetizing. The soup lacked depth and the noodles and toppings were not enjoyable. It's rare to find a tonkotsu ramen that doesn't make you want to order extra noodles. In a way, this bowl was unique and not worth the high price tag. Perhaps Ichiran's success lies in their clever business tactics.

I suddenly felt like eating tonkotsu ramen, so I entered Ichiran which I haven't been to in a while. The atmosphere of the restaurant was as nostalgic as ever. However, there's something about Ichiran's taste, for better or for worse. It's not bad, but I can't help but think it's not cost-effective. Even after getting an extra serving, I still didn't feel full, and ended up spending over 1,000 yen (note: this is for an average meal size). I wonder when I'll visit again.

I visited Ichiran near Nakano Station for the first time in over 20 years since I went there as a student. I ordered the ramen with the normal level of richness, thickness, noodle firmness, green onions, and red sauce. I used to think it was delicious when I was a student, but trying it again after so long as an adult, it wasn't as great as I remembered. My tastes may have changed. Maybe I didn't even need to add the red sauce.

It's been about 5 years since I last had Ichiran ramen. Suddenly felt like eating it. I'm not a fan of spicy, so I ordered it without the secret sauce. The taste was normal, the broth was rich, and the noodles were firm. I chose the set with a boiled egg and an extra serving of noodles. It didn't seem like a particularly good deal as the price was just added on normally. I felt like the first bowl was a bit small, and I wondered if the extra noodles had more volume... Was it just my imagination? Overall, it's a favorite taste and noodles for those who love tonkotsu ramen. I wish I had eaten about 2 more extra servings...

I use this place quite frequently. There is rarely a line even during lunchtime, so you can enter smoothly. It's nice that there are hangers on the wall behind the seats for your jacket. The service is quick from ordering to serving. The extra noodles also come quickly after ordering. The seating area is well cleaned and I have never noticed any dirt. The taste is delicious as expected.

I visited at night. I sat in a semi-private room, so I couldn't see how many customers were there. But there were a lot of staff, so the service was quick. I filled out the order form, handed it over, and my ramen arrived within 10 minutes. I asked for extra spiciness, and it was really hot (lol). It had been a while since I last had Ichiran, and it was amazing. The broth was still rich and delicious, and the thin noodles were a perfect match. I wanted to get a refill, but I had to go back to work, so I had to give up on that.

This time I visited "Ichiran Nakano Store"! I ordered ramen for 930 yen + small rice for 200 yen, totaling 1130 yen. I wanted to eat a rich and thick ramen, and before I knew it, I was in front of Ichiran! As always, it had the authentic tonkotsu flavor! It is popular not only among Japanese people but also among foreign users, and it always seems to be crowded on weekends! You can customize the hardness of the noodles, the richness of the flavor, the amount of garlic, white or green onions, and the presence of char siu to your liking, so you can make it your own! It was the usual reliable taste! Please try it once and customize it to your liking!

The ramen costs 930 yen and comes with green onions on the left, chashu on the right, and noodles with spicy sauce in the center. The thin but firm noodles go well with the soup and sauce, creating a delicious combination. The soup has a tonkotsu flavor without being greasy, and it has a deep taste. This ramen is different from the soy sauce tonkotsu ramen in the Kanto region. The restaurant is located in a building on Nakano Street, and it is quite spacious inside. The ramen is priced at 930 yen, which may be a bit expensive for a lunch option. You need to buy a meal ticket first and then find a seat, which can be a bit confusing. I chose an empty seat, and it turned out to be the right choice.

Twenty years ago, I could only eat Ichiran when I went to Hakata. Now, it's everywhere, but that's no surprise. With over 100 locations nationwide, the distinct taste of Ichiran's pork bone soup with no unpleasant smell and a unique umami spiciness is addictive. I've lost count of how many times I've eaten it, but I always crave this original flavor. As always, it was an exquisite ramen experience.

It's been a while, so I was a bit confused by the system at Nakano's "Ichiran" where you can order by pressing buttons. I pressed pretty much all the buttons on the "flavor concentration counter." I added extra noodles at the right timing and it was delicious. The wide range of customers, the depth of the ordering process, and the many fans who love to customize make it a well-crafted ramen establishment. Thank you for the meal.

I had known about this place for a while, but happened to discover it, so I decided to give it a try. When you go downstairs, there is a ticket machine. Beyond the ticket machine, there is a hallway. To the left, there is a row of individual counters with partitions, just as rumored. I sat at the counter in the back, where there was nobody. It felt like being in some kind of attraction, as there was a partition in front of me and I couldn't see beyond the counter. After a while, a staff member welcomed me, but I could only see their feet, not their face. I had to fill out a paper with my preferences for noodle firmness, garlic, pork fat, etc., and then I had to press a buzzer to let them know. A curtain was then drawn in front of me, completely blocking my view. There were various confusing steps before placing my order. By the way, one bowl of ramen costs 930 yen, with only a small amount of green onions and three thin slices of pork included. It's quite expensive. I ordered everything as normal since it was my first time. After a while, the curtain in front of me opened, and my ramen arrived. The soup was tasty, but I found myself wondering what truly delicious tonkotsu ramen tastes like. I remember the delicious Nagahama ramen I had in Kyushu in the past. Overall, I didn't find this ramen to be as delicious as its price suggests. Perhaps it's more about the name recognition. Anyway, it was an experience I wanted to try once, so I consider it a memorable visit.

I ordered the ramen (¥930) at the well-known tonkotsu ramen chain "Ichiran". Founded in 1960 by Sadayuki Nakahara in Fukuoka City, the original store was called "Futaba Ramen" and served ramen with a red spicy sauce floating in the middle. In 1966, the store moved to Ogori City and changed its name to "Ichiran". The original owners, the Nakahara couple, planned to retire due to old age, but the current owner bought the store and continued the business. Ichiran became a rare member-based ramen store where regular customers become members. The first official Ichiran store opened in September 1993 in Fukuoka, and the chain expanded within Fukuoka prefecture. The current Ichiran has a self-ordering system and a "flavor concentration counter" which were introduced after the change in ownership. Ichiran aims for customers to enjoy their ramen without any worries, hence the unique ordering system and the charming "extra noodle system" where a chime rings when ordering extra noodles. Ichiran has expanded beyond Kyushu to Kansai, Kanto, Tohoku, and Hokkaido, becoming one of Japan's leading tonkotsu ramen chains. As always, Ichiran's tonkotsu ramen is delicious! Although the price is on the higher side and the cost performance may not be the best, the slightly thick and creamy tonkotsu broth, combined with the sweetness and saltiness of the sauce and the thin straight noodles, create a perfect harmony that is truly addictive. It was delicious!

There were various options, but we decided to eat at Ichiran for a quick meal. We went to B1. Today, we ordered the extra rich broth with green onions and the noodles extra firm. The extra rich broth is still quite elegant. I tried adding more of the red paste, and it was really good. I topped it with green onions and started with one bowl. Got the extra noodles and finished the rest. It seems like there is some sauce on it. It's hard to pinpoint what makes it delicious, but it's a taste that somehow becomes addictive. This serving style is convenient, especially during the pandemic or when face-to-face interactions are troublesome for both parties.

It is located about a 3-minute walk from Nakano Station along the main street. I have always liked the taste of Ichiran and have been there a few times before. This was my first time at the Nakano Ichiran. I ordered the ramen for 930 yen and two extra noodle refills for 420 yen, totaling 1350 yen. The soup was light and didn't have any pork smell, making it a type that would be liked by many. The noodles were the familiar thin noodles with a slightly spicy red sauce. The chashu was thin and tender. When I think about it calmly, Ichiran doesn't really have anything unique to offer, and the prices are quite high. With the idea of being separated and having a private experience becoming more common due to COVID, I wonder if they can survive in the future. They seem to be too focused on branding and could end up failing. There are other options in Nakano, so I might not visit again in the future. Nevertheless, the taste was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I think there are mixed opinions about this dining style. The ramen is delicious. However, I wonder why there is no pepper? It's hard to ask the staff about it. Recently, for various reasons, Hakata Nagahama ramen has drastically decreased in popularity in the Kanto region. I hope they can appeal to young people and come up with a way to revive Hakata Nagahama ramen in Kanto. Good luck!

When I eat with my husband, we usually decide on a restaurant based on his mood, but this time he headed straight to a place he wanted to try - Ichiran. It was surprisingly spacious, with a ticket machine at the entrance. We bought our meal tickets and went further inside, feeling like ninjas. We sat at the counter and handed over a paper with our flavor preferences to the staff behind the counter. The seats were slightly elevated, and the staff bowed down to our eye level every time, making us feel very respectful. I heard that Ichiran is not popular among Westerners who enjoy conversation during meals, but it's perfect for dining during the pandemic. The dividers between seats can be opened if you sit next to someone, but I closed it because my husband tends to bother me. I asked for everything to be normal in terms of spiciness since I'm not used to eating spicy food. Ramen shops can be intimidating for solo female diners, but this system made it more approachable. Also, we tend to sleep in on weekends, so finding a place open for lunch late is convenient for us. We quietly enjoyed our meal, focusing on the flavors. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Late at night, when I was having trouble finding a place to eat, I stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to give it a try. Despite not being very crowded, there were still a decent number of customers, possibly due to the lack of interaction with others in the surrounding area. The restaurant offers the option to choose the level of flavor in the dishes, and I opted for a rich soup base ramen with the signature taste of Ichiran. I also enjoyed ordering an extra serving of noodles. This place is a convenient find in Nakano where options for late-night dining are limited.

I visited Ichiran in Nakano for the first time. 25 years ago, Ichiran was only in Fukuoka, and at that time, Ichiran was a Fukuoka (Hakata) soul food that could only be eaten in Fukuoka alongside Ippudo. After a few years, Ichiran started expanding into Tokyo, starting with Roppongi, which surprised me. I had heard that Ichiran wouldn't expand outside of Fukuoka because the taste would decline once it became a chain. Now, about this Ichiran in Nakano. It's not bad, in fact, I think it has the typical Ichiran taste. But, what has clearly changed from the Ichiran in Fukuoka is something I can't quite put my finger on. Has Ichiran changed, or have I changed? Either way, the excitement I felt when I first tried it 25 years ago is no longer there. Thank you for the meal. Visit date: 2020.01.14